Reach Out to “The Remedy”

When I first listened to Muslim hip hop group Native Deen’s newest album, “The Remedy,” I thought that its title track was another song about how Islam is “the remedy” for our ills and problems. I didn’t have high expectations, despite my really liking the album thus far.

How wrong I was.

The song “The Remedy” follows the fantastic song

about which I will reflect at a later time. “My Faith, My Voice” exhorts Muslims to assert that, despite what others say about Islam, it is our voices that matter. And so maybe, I thought, the lyrics of the song “The Remedy” would be an answer to the dilemma of being vilified because of the actions of Muslim extremists.

I was shocked to learn that the entire song consists of the repitition of God’s name, the Islamic shahadah (“testimony of faith”), and selected names of God. And it was masterfully weaved with a fantastic beat and rhythm. I have listened to it mulitple, multiple times. It has even brought tears to my eyes, as it made me reach out to the Precious Beloved with my heart and soul. My kids love the song as well.

And when I think about it, Native Deen is absolutely right: the only “remedy” for our ills should be God, and He alone. It is the Lord our God who is the remedy of our problems. It is to the Lord our God that we should turn when we need help, in both good time and bad. We should always remember the Lord our God when things are going well, so that – God forbid – if things do not go well, the Lord will come to you before you think about coming to Him.

I also found the names of God that ND chose to be interesting and fitting for the theme of the song:

Al-Malik (The King)
Al-Awal (The First)
Al-Khaliq (The Creator)
Al-Akhir (The Last)
Al-Qabid (The One who Moderates)
Al-Khafid (The One who Humbles)
Ar-Razzaq (The Provider)
Al-Fattah (The One who opens his Mercy to Mankind)
Al-Ghaffar (The Forgiving)
Al-Qahhar (The Subduer)
Al-Mu’ahkir (The One who gives us time to repent for our sins)
Al-Musawwir (The One who molds great beauty)
Al-Muhaymin (The Guardian)
Al-Muqadim (The one who delays punishment)
Al-Hadi (The Guide)
As-Salaam (The Source of Peace)
Al-Baqi (The Everlasting One)
Al-Rahman (The Most Forgiving)
Al-Mani (The One who prevents harm to come to those who ask)
Al-Haleem (The Forbearing)
Al-Wasi (The All-Comprehending)
Al-Kareem (The Most Generous)

Our Lord is the “remedy,” because He is the First and the Last, and He is the Only Everlasting King of all Kings. Our Lord is “the remedy,” because He is our Creator, and so He knows how best to help us in times of need. Our Lord is “the remedy,” because He is the Provider for everything in this Universe and beyond. Our Lord is “the remedy,” because He is our Guardian, our Guide, and our Source of Peace.

Our Lord is the “remedy,” because He subdues and humbles those who wish to harm us, and He prevents harm from coming to us. Our Lord is “the remedy,” because if we fall, He is Most Generous in His Forbearance, Most Merciful towards our sins, and most Gracious in allowing us time to come back to Him in repentence.

Our Lord is “the remedy,” because He shaped us in the most beautiful of forms, and He shapes the beauty of this world for our benefit. Our Lord is “the remedy,” because He comprehends everything in this universe, and He can come to our aid at all times. It is only the Lord our God who is our remedy, and so it is very fitting that this song consists of the names of God.

I can’t help but listen to this song again, and again, and again. I imagine I will get tired of listening to it at some point: this usually happens with most songs to which I first listen to. Yet, whenever I go back to more “secular,” yet clean, songs on my iPod, my heart aches, and I immediately go back to ND’s newest album and listen to “The Remedy.” Perhaps this time, I will not tire of the song…ever.